L12: the 1569 northern rebellion and 1601 essex rebellion

what 3 locations did the northern rebellion take place in?

• durham

• yorkshire

• cumberland

how was the north governed prior to the 1569 northern rebellion? leader?

• governed by the council of the north, based in york

• led by the lord president → earl of sussex, southerner and conservative w/ strong relationship with traditional northern aristocracy

how was durham governed prior to the northern rebellion?

• part of the county palatine

• led by the bishop of durham → powers had been eroded by 1536 act of parliament, still had legal powers

who was the bishop of durham prior to the northern rebellion 1569? beliefs/background?

james pilkington

• radical reformer, previously offended the earl of westmorland

who were the leaders of the 1569 northern rebellion?

• thomas percy (earl of northumberland)

• charles neville (earl of westmorland)

• leonard dare (cousin of the earl of northumberland)

what were the 3 main causes of the northern rebellion 1569?

• court rivalry and faction

• religion

• local factors

how did court rivalry and faction cause the northern rebellion 1569?

• duke of norfolk had been approached to marry mary qos

• any children of the marriage would be heirs to the throne → treasonous proposal

• norfolk summoned to court upon discovery

• westmorland (norfolk’s brother in law) knew about the plan → discovery motivated revolt, would be charged w/ treason anyway

how did religion motivate the 1569 northern rebellion?

• bishop of durham → radical protestant reformer, james pilkington

• recent appointments in diocese of durham were radical protestants

• e.g. removed ‘cult of st cuthert’ and associated artefacts in durham

• westmorland disliked radical protestants

evidence of religious/catholic motivations in the 1569 northern rebellion

used the same banner of the 5 wounds of christ as in the 1536 pilgrimage of grace

how did local factors motivate the 1569 northern rebellion?

• poor management of northern local gov. and nobles by elizabeth

• westmorland & northumberland felt dishonoured about being ‘cut out’ of governance in north

• resented appointment of ‘outsiders’ to council of the north

• resented their loss of influence at royal court

what happened in the northern rebellion in autumn 1569?

• northumberland and westmorland summoned to court due to rumours of planned rebellion

• forced them into rebellion, would be arrested for treason anyway if they went to court

what happened in the northern rebellion in november 1569?

• northumberland and westmorland gathered followers

• seized durham

• moved south → chose not to lay siege to york (even though it was poorly defended)

how many supporters did the northern rebellion have?

6000 supporters

what happened in the northern rebellion in december 1569?

• captured barnard castle & hartlepool

• hoped to receive a spanish fleet and join forces

• failed to gain wider support

• disbanded and earls fled to scotland upon hearing royal forces were moving north

what was the significance of the rebels capturing hartlepool?

• port city

• provides landing for possible spanish invasion

• threatens trade

• incredibly serious potential threat, not in reality

what happened in the northern rebellion in january 1570?

• leonard dare attempted to restart rebellion in cumberland

• forces massacred by royal army near carlisle

why did the northern rebellion fail?

• absence of clear unifying cause

• lacking effective leadership and noble support

• geographically isolated, distant from london

• failed to capture york

• poorly organised

• no foreign policy

• decisive action from authorities

how did the crown make decisive action during the northern rebellion?

• mary removed to place of safety

• quickly raised army and went to meet the rebels in the north

executions after 1569 northern rebellion

• 66 rebels executed in durham & york, many ordered but not done

• 1572 - northumberland executed

what happened to the leaders of the northern rebellion?

• northumberland: 1572 executed and head displayed on pole in york for 2 years

• westmorland: alive in spanish netherlands

• norfolk: 1572 executed in aftermath of the ridolfi plot

how did elizabeth alter local governance of the north following the northern rebellion?

• crown seized and redistributed land belonging to northern earls

  • undermined traditional powers of local gentry

• 1572 - reorganisation of council of the north

  • now controlled by earl of huntington, outsider and crown loyalist

what was the northern rebellion evidence for?

• lack of support for elizabeth in the north

• poor handling of governance in regions → faction

• north-south split

• resistance to protestant reforms

who led the 1601 essex rebellion? background?

robert devereux - earl of essex

• originally favourite of elizabeth

• 1593 - privy councillor

• 1596 - successful raid on cadiz

causes of the 1601 essex rebellion

• factional rivalry

• failure in ireland

• loss of monopoly and favour

• competition between councillors

what was the primary cause of the essex rebellion?

faction at court

what failure in ireland did devereux make that contributed to the 1601 Essex rebellion?

1599 - charged with treason for failing to follow elizabeth’s orders in ireland

• cecil chose not to fully press charges

• essex spent year under house arrest - resentment grew against william & robert cecil

how did loss in monopoly and failure contribute to the 1601 Essex rebellion?

after failure in ireland:

• denied of his positions

• renewal of monopoly on sweet wine denied → debt increased, lost £50,000 p/a

• desertion of followers → francis bacon & sir william knollys

how did competition between councillors contribute to the 1601 Essex rebellion?

• essex blamed cecil for his position

• met w/ james vi of scotland to plan coup and replace cecil

what was the plan of the northern rebellion?

• secure the palace of whitehall

• storm tower of london

• purge privy council of cecil & followers

  • “lofty aims”

how many supporters did the essex rebellion have?

300 supporters

• primarily in essex’s employ

events of the 1601 Essex rebellion?

• cecil discovered plans → forced to change tactics

• essex led demonstration (300 supporters) on his own land

• messengers sent by elizabeth (to discuss supporters and come to court)

• took 4 messengers hostage and tried to gain support in london

• no support came

• forced to return home and hostages released

what did cecil do during the 1601 Essex rebellion?

fortified key palaces

what was the outcome of the essex rebel 1601?

• essex surrendered

• himself and 5 key associates executed

how could the essex rebellion be seen as a threat to elizabeth?

• evidence of dangerous factional rivalry in final years of reign

• betrayed by those closest to her

• highlighted problems of uncertain succession

how could the essex rebellion be seen as a minimal threat to elizabeth?

• dealt with swiftly and effectively

• absolutely no support from londoners

• plan intrinsically weak. lacked organisation and strategy